Can Laughter Ease Labor Pain? What Would You Do If Your Husband Did THIS?

Laughter has been shown to have lots of great health benefits (one study even showed it could protect against heart attacks). But could a good chuckle (a really good one) help ease the intense pains women feel during childbirth?

When LaQuita McDaniel went into labor, her husband, Charles, whipped out the video camera--and some rap lyrics. Take a look at this video (it's cute!). Even though LaQuita's about to have a baby and she ends up shooing her husband away, she does so with a smile and a laugh. (She later gave birth to baby Kingston.)

So can even a little laughter help quell some labor pains? Science says... yes! Laughter increases endorphins--your body's natural pain relievers--and decreases the number of bad stress hormones, causing your body to relax.

Even a forced smile releases some endorphins, so some physicians suggest that dads-to-be get some jokes ready for when it's go time.

I totally buy this--I always find myself laughing when I'm about to get a shot or some other painful physical experience. It helps me get through it a lot more easily because I don't focus on how much something's going to hurt. (I think my doctor thinks I'm a very jolly person.)

Do you think laughter's the best medicine? Do you ever use humor to ease pain or discomfort--for yourself or others?